New charbar restaurant raises the bar in Calgary to new heights

DH Calgary StaffJun 30, 2015 10:41 am

The new charbar restaurant, located in the converted Simmons Building in the East Village, is led by Calgary’s award-winning chef, Jessica Pelland, a young, dynamic rising chef who has made remarkable strides in her career.

charbar introduces locals and visitors to the culinary inspirations of Argentina, Spain and Italy. Pelland is supported by co-owners and chefs John Jackson and Connie DeSousa of CHARCUT Roast House.

Image: Colin Way

As guests enter the 1912 heritage site, they are greeted with the preserved and restored historical decor, from the original exposed brick and beams to the vaulted ceilings. charbar sets the stage and teases diners as they walk through the dining space, past the ultra-dry aged Alberta beef display and a meandering ceviche raw bar through to the riverfront patio. At the heart of the restaurant is the true inspiration for charbar, a custom-made Argentine wood-fired grill, introducing diners to the art of asado, an authentic Argentinian method of barbecuing, guaranteed to serve Alberta beef at its absolute best.

Image: Colin Way

Image: Colin Way

“Calgary has made strides in the culinary scene in recent years, meaning tourists and locals alike are now constantly waiting to see what the next new thing is,” Chef Pelland said. “At charbar, we’re not cuisine or ingredient-specific, but our menu is inspired by a celebration of Western Canadian ingredients; from the ocean, prairies and local gardens.”

Guests are offered a choice of diverse culinary experiences, with fresh seafood at the extensive raw bar and ultra dry-aged Alberta beef grilled on the custom-made Argentine wood-fire. charbar also dedicates half of its menu to vegetarian small plates, such as sourdough Fugazza with Roman broccoli, provoleta and roast peppers, or the baked empanadas with almond chimichurri.

Image: Colin Way

charbar forms an eclectic, culinary destination that is the first of its kind in Calgary. With the help of designers McKinley Burkart, the 16,000 sq. ft. Simmons Building was restored and transformed to house charbar, alongside hyper-local businesses Sidewalk Citizen Bakery and Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters. Uniquely positioned, the building’s ample windows and expansive rooftop patio offer views of the Bow River, St. Patrick’s Island, the Calgary skyline and distant Rocky Mountain peaks at each turn.